MIDDLE EAST: An Ominous First

For the first time in history, a Communist was elected to sit in an Arab
parliament. In Syria's national election, normally conservative Damascus
gave only one other winner more votes than Khaled Bakdash, the
Middle East's No. 1 Red. Vigorous, persuasive Bakdash, who
made a pilgrimage to Moscow only last year, made Middle East history
with a direct and relentless campaign built largely on
anti-Americanism. Along with Bakdash, the same sort of sentiments won
seats for twelve Socialists.

The bulk of the 142 Deputies elected were standard Arab
politicians-old-line, conservative and opportunist, many of them also
hostile to...